News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
It's dangerous to prognosticate about economic trends in Sisters, but the signs seem to be pointing to an uptick in the local economy. Sisters businesses experienced a brisk holiday season, despite weather conditions that made navigating the downtown shopping district challenging. The Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce surveyed member businesses and found that many Sisters Country businesses saw an increase in sales over the holidays. Although some owners noted that the shopping season started late, many of their businesses... Full story
Two days before Thanksgiving, Lynn Gilmore and her younger brother Tim Keeton lay on separate gurneys in pre-op at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), with just a curtain between them. "She sang to me," Lynn heard her brother say to the nurse, as they wheeled him off to surgery. As if that explained why a thirty-seven-year-old man would give up a kidney to help his big sister. He was referring to those dusty days they spent together long ago on the Keeton family's 500... Full story
This is no way to start a new year and a new city council. The first act that brand-new city councilor David Asson will take Thursday night will be divisive. It's not his fault; he's the presumptive swing vote in a choice between Lon Kellstrom and Sharlene Weed for the mayor's seat on the council. Asson has already indicated that he will not support Weed for the position, but any way he votes puts him crosswise with somebody right off the bat, despite best intentions to be a unifying force. By charter, the city council... Full story
To the Editor: Now that the holiday season has come to a close for another exciting year in Sisters Country, the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the community for supporting our local businesses. By shopping locally for the holidays and throughout the year, Sisters residents not only boosted the businesses of their neighbors, they kept more money in the community. Because Sisters Country businesses are interdependent, the dollars spent here will continue to stimulate our local economy through employee... Full story
A "new" nonprofit is making its debut in the Sisters arts scene, encouraging the creative writing efforts of local youth. "Local Poets" was born and raised here and has finally found legs enough to begin making its way in the world. Incorporated as a nonprofit in late 2008, granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in July of 2009, and finally finding business footing late last year, Local Poets has as its mission the support and promotion of the publication and performance of young people's poetry. Initially, this translates to pu... Full story
Sisters Trails Alliance is hosting its annual members meeting, open to the public, to unveil the new Community Trails Plan. The objectives of the original Sisters Community Trails Plan, created in 2002, have largely been accomplished over the course of the last decade. These included the creation and signing of an overall trail system, a compact gravel trail connecting Tollgate with the high school and middle school, and 25 miles of new trail in the Peterson Ridge system. The meeting is being held Tuesday, January 18, 7 to... Full story
Sisters Habitat for Humanity has had good reason to celebrate the advent of 2011. Last week, staff and volunteers moved the chapter's ReStore secondhand appliance and furniture outlet out of the decrepit former city hall building on Fir Street into a former warehouse facility at 254 W. Adams Ave. (next to Sisters Art Works). The new facility doubles the space available, which will help the chapter sell more goods, according to Executive Director Sharlene Weed. Weed thanked... Full story
Quilting has come a long way from the traditional styles created by pioneers frugally turning scraps of cloth into blankets. While traditional stylings retain their considerable charm, modern quilters create everything from landscape "paintings" to pieces of abstract wall art. That's the whole purpose of the Journeys Quilt Group - to push the boundaries of quilting and to challenge each member to try things they've never done in their art form. The results of that effort are... Full story
The wrestling team battled Cottage Grove and Elmira with only nine wrestlers on Thursday, January 6. The team had several players miss the meet due to illness and poor grades. Sisters lost 39-12 to Cottage Grove and then fell to Elmira 45-21. Josh O'Brien and Ryan Long won their matches against Cottage Grove. O'Brien (135 pounds) controlled round one with a takedown and near fall, and then in round two pinned Darrin Voit. Long (140 pounds) pinned August Ensminger with a front double arm bar 40 seconds into the match.... Full story
Every month a group of Sisters women gather for lunch, fun and fellowship at one of Sisters' eateries. The SSSS Sisters Red Hats has 16 active members. During the Christmas season, the members donate to the Kiwanis food bank in lieu of gifts for each other. They also sing Christmas carols at Aspen Ridge retirement home during their Red Hat Ladies Christmas Tea. For their October lunch, the ladies dress in Halloween costumes. Each of the ladies wears red or purple clothing, and those under 55 wear pink hats while those 55 and... Full story
The Cascade Horizon Band of Bend opens its concert series for 2011 with back-to-back performances. The first will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 29, in the Sisters High School Auditorium. The second is at 2 p.m. the following day, Sunday, January 30, in the Summit High School Auditorium in Bend. Admission to each concert is free, but donations are gladly accepted. Each of the Cascade Horizon programs opens with Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," followed by "Prairie Dances," "Highlights from Exodus," "Irving... Full story
The Wy'East Resource Conservation & Development Council recently announced that Bill Mintiens has been named executive director of the non-profit, replacing Debbe Chadwick who is leaving to become district manager with the Jefferson County Soil & Water Conservation District. Mintiens joined Wy'East in May of 2010 as public affairs specialist. In his new role he will be responsible for organizational leadership and growth while building partnerships that expand Wy'East's projec... Full story
Noted singer-songwriter Sarah Sample will play in a house concert on Thursday, January 20, at The Barn at Pine Meadow Ranch. Sample has made a mark on the folk music circuit. A Sisters Folk Festival songwriting contest finalist, Sample has also been noticed by Telluride, Kerrville, Mountain New Song and more. A slot on 2010's Cayamo Cruise and the main stage at Folks Fest 2008. "Someday, Someday" is Sarah Sample's latest release. And after two albums, an EP, and lots of touring into her career, Sarah Sample is quickly... Full story
In their first competition after the winter break, the Outlaws faced seven tough 5A and 6A teams at the Jay Rowan Invitational in Redmond on January 8. Host Redmond won the girls' competition with 337 point and South Salem dominated the boys' events with 303 points. The Outlaws finished sixth ahead of Madras and Lebanon in the women's team rankings and sixth ahead of Hood River and Mt. View in the men's standings. In spite of the depth and strength of these teams, the Outlaws recorded some impressive individual and relay... Full story
The Outlaws improved their record to 8-4 with a 52-34 win over Stayton at home on Tuesday, January 4, and then a 45-23 victory on the road over Molalla. Sisters battled to beat No. 7 ranked Stayton on Tuesday night. The Outlaws' defensive intensity and team effort was critical in the victory. It was a close contest the first two quarters, and at the half the Eagles held a slim 29-26 lead. Both teams put up 12 points in the third quarter, and then in the fourth the Outlaws pull... Full story
Where do memories go when they vanish? What if there was a divine book where memories were recorded, and what if that book was here on Earth? In "Book of Days," a new theological mystery novel by best-selling Washington author Jim Rubart, those provocative questions are played out and answered. Released by B & H Publishing, the book is set in Sisters - fictionalized as the town of Three Peaks, Oregon, where one man's spiritual quest leads him to a secret manuscript hidden by... Full story
• Police arrested a 20-year-old man on a warrant. • A citizen complained about a dog running at large. Told the dog owner five times to control the dog, without effect. • Someone scrawled graffiti and strewed trash around the Village Green restrooms. • A 22-year-old man was arrested after marijuana and other drugs were found during a traffic stop. • Five pigs were wandering in the roadway in an open range area. • Someone reported theft of property from an... Full story
A man of a simpler time. Husband and father, and provider. A working man, persistent, strong, humble and proud. He lived with a satisfied mind. Tried new things, and valued the old. Skeptical of the institutions of mankind, his values were often unspoken: simplicity, economy, and sincerity. Drawn to the majesty of nature. A hunter, solely for the privilege to observe. He maintained a sense of pace and rhythm in living. Playing music each day in 3/4 time. Valued the art of handwriting. He was both behind and ahead of his... Full story
Earl died peacefully at home on Christmas Day. Earl was born March 29, 1932 in Sterling, Colorado to Simon and Nellie Richards. He grew up in Hood River and graduated from Hood River High School in 1950. He attended NW Christian College, served in the Marines during the Korean War, was a police officer for 15 years and worked for the GM warehouse in Beaverton for 20 years. Earl and Mary built their retirement home in 1989 in Sisters. In 1993, Earl organized the Central Oregon... Full story
It's getting difficult for Outlaws sports programs to raise the funds they need to keep players on the field and on the court. Superintendent Jim Golden and Sisters High School Principal Bob Macauley cautioned school board members Wednesday that both fundraisers and sports program donors are experiencing "donor fatigue" as a result of frequent requests for support from coaches, parents and students representing many diverse sports groups in the district. Macauley estimates that current fundraising efforts will fall $40,000... Full story
